On the House

Make Family Reunions Meaningful

Plan ahead to make the most of conversations

For many, reunions that had been postponed during the pandemic are finally starting to take place. Once those long-awaited hugs have been exchanged, everyone can settle in for some overdue catching up.

Sitting down with loved ones to talk about their lives can be richly satisfying. Learning about memorable events, favorite activities and valuable lessons they have learned can help bring you closer and get to know them in a different way. Consider the following tips from RememberingALife.com to begin these meaningful conversations.

Start by sharing mutual stories. If you’ve taken a vacation together or shared a cherished experience, discuss that first to get the conversation going. If your family member is hesitant, share your own stories first so he or she feels more comfortable.

Take notes. Either during or after your conversation, make note of the important memories shared.

Ask questions. One of the easiest ways to start and maintain a conversation is by asking questions. A visual prompt like a photo album, souvenir or memento can also be a conversation starter.

Treat your talk as a beginning. Use it as a springboard for more conversations which you can openly talk about any number of things, from reflecting on the past to planning for the future.

When the time comes, make it meaningful. These shared conversations may help your family plan a meaningful funeral or life tribute for your loved one that honors his or her life. When the time comes, memorialization can be an important step in the journey toward healing.

—FamilyFeatures.com

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South River EMC Communicator

PRIORITIZE SAFETY YEAR-ROUND

Although May is Electrical Safety Month, we want to stress the importance of practicing safety yearround. From our co-op crews to you, the members we serve, we recognize that everyone has a part to play in prioritizing safety.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured or electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes. Many of these accidents are preventable. Electricity is a necessity, and it powers our daily lives. But we know first-hand how dangerous electricity can be because we work with it 365 days a year.

To us, safety is more than a catchphrase. It’s our responsibility to keep you and all members of our community safe. That’s why you’ve seen South River EMC holding safety demonstrations at schools and organizations through the years to demonstrate the dangers of electricity. Continued on page C

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

South River EMC offices will be closed Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day.

Scholarship Recipients B

Storm Prep D

Operation Round Up E

Energy Smarts F-H

Are you a student, or the parent of a student, with at least one A on his or her report card? Then it's time for the "Give Us An A" program!

Grab a copy of your child’s most recent report card containing at least one "A" and submit it to:

South River EMC “Give Us An A” PO Box 931 Dunn, NC 28335 Or email it to: connections@ sremc.com.

Include the member’s name, address, South River EMC account number and daytime telephone number. Report cards will not be accepted without this information.

The drawing is held for students achieving at least one A on their report card, and 15 names will be drawn to receive a $25 gift card. The program is open to students who are members, or children of members, of South River EMC.

Don’t miss an opportunity to celebrate good grades, send that report card to us by July 6.

A

SOUTH RIVER EMC AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

For some time, high school seniors, and their parents, have been looking toward the start of their college careers.

Recently, four students were selected to receive a $1,000 South River EMC scholarship.

After reviewing the applications, a committee awarded $4,000 in scholarships to the following students who live in the South River EMC service area:

Wyatt Holland, son of Johnnie and Jill Holland, of Godwin. Holland plans to attend UNC- Wilmington, to obtain a biology degree, with the intent to become an orthopedic physician. Alyssa Hargrove, daughter of Kenneth and Allison Hargrove, of Dunn. She plans to attend East Carolina University, to obtain a degree in psychology, with plans to become an occupational therapist.

Amelia Tart, daughter of Chris and Serina Tart, of Roseboro. Tart plans to attend East Carolina University Honor’s College, to study biology, with the intent to become an anesthesiologist.

Kaitlyn Giddens, daughter of Paul and Christie Giddens, of Clinton. Giddens is planning to attend East Carolina University, to major in forensic anthropology while double-minoring in biology and criminal justice with plans to become a forensic pathologist.

Factors considered in the selection process include: character, moral standards, citizenship, past and present academic performance, letters of recommendation, statements of career goals and qualifications; and extracurricular activities.

This scholarship opportunity showcases many wonderful attributes in our students.

Congratulations!

Wyatt Holland Alyssa Hargrove Amelia Tart Kaitlyn Giddens

Don't wait for the next outage event. My power is out.

Mine too, I texted SREMC.

What's the number?

How?

Thanks! 000530—but you have to be signed up.

Text SREMCTEXT to 000530 and you’ll be ready if it happens again.

Text SREMCTEXT to 000530 or 888.338.5530 to sign up today!

Sign up processing takes about 24 hours, that's why it is best to do so in fair weather.

SAFETY continued from page A

We discuss emergency scenarios, such as what to do in a car accident involving a utility pole and downed power lines. We caution students on the dangers of pad-mounted transformers and overloading circuits with too many electronic devices.

Electricity is an integral part of modern life. Given the prevalence of electrical devices, tools and appliances, we'd like to pass along a few practical electrical safety tips.

Frayed wires pose a serious safety hazard. Power cords can become damaged or frayed from age, heavy use or excessive current flow through the wiring. If cords become frayed or cut, replace them, as they could cause a shock when handled.

Avoid overloading circuits. Circuits can only cope with a limited amount of electricity. Overload happens when you draw more electricity than a circuit can safely handle – by having too many devices running on one circuit.

Label circuit breakers to understand the circuits in your home. Contact a qualified electrician if your home is more than 40 years old and you need to install multiple large appliances that consume large amounts of electricity. Use extension cords properly. Never plug an extension cord into another extension cord. If you “daisy chain” them together, it could lead to overheating, creating a potential fire hazard. Don’t exceed the wattage of the cord. Doing so also creates a risk of overloading the cord and creating a fire hazard. Extension cords should not be used as permanent solutions. If you need additional outlets, contact a licensed electrician to help.

We encourage you to talk with your kids about playing it safe and smart around electricity. Help them be aware of overhead power lines near where they play outdoors.

Our top priority is providing an uninterrupted energy supply 24/7, 365 days per year. But equally important is keeping our community safe around electricity.

Contact South River EMC at 910.892.8071 or sremc@sremc. com for additional electrical safety tips or if you would like us to provide a safety demonstration at your school.

Surges in voltage levels are caused by many different events, with lightning being the most common.

And as we come into our stormy weather season, electric utilities, such as South River EMC, have devices in place on our lines to suppress surges from damaging our equipment and reaching your homes, but many surges cannot be prevented. The best way to protect your appliances is with Strike Guard equipment.

Surge suppressors are made to protect your electronic equipment by diverting surges away from sensitive electric circuits. South River EMC offers a whole-house protector, installed at your meter base, as well as plug-in suppressors, which connect to individual pieces of equipment.

Surge protection is a two-step approach, don’t leave it to chance.

For more information, visit sremc.com/surge-protection, call 910.892.8071 or email adviseguys@sremc.com.

SOUTH RIVER EMC:

Preparing for Spring Storms

South River EMC is constantly monitoring the weather to see its movement in our area.

When severe weather impacts our members, South River EMC’s control center and member services representatives will be available 24/7, and members are encouraged to report any power outages through our phone system at 910.892.8071, press 2*, or by texting SREMCTEXT to 000530. Be sure that you are signed up for outage texting at least 24-hours before using it. Please do not report power outages on the Cooperative’s Facebook page.

South River EMC is prepared for the severe storms that are expected in our area during the season. If we experience any power outages or damage to the system, crews will be ready to make repairs as soon as outdoor conditions are safe.

South River EMC maintains a stock of poles, transformers and other equipment, and personnel are coordinating with suppliers should we need additional materials.

South River EMC encourages all members to have a storm emergency kit on hand. We recommend including the following items:

 water (one gallon per person per day, for several days)  food (three-day supply of non-perishables)  flashlights  First Aid Kit/prescriptions  extra batteries/wireless phone chargers  manual can opener  moist towelettes  extra pet food For updates in the event of a power outage and restoration efforts, visit our website at sremc.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @SouthRiverEMC.

Electric vehicles, or EVs for short, have really come a long way since the introduction of the first plug-in hybrid Prius in 1997.

The market now boasts four types of electric vehicles: battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell. And these options are available from most of the major auto manufacturers.

So, if you’re considering an EV, you should be aware that charging at home is something you’ll need to prepare for, you are not able to just come home and plug in your new vehicle. Electric car chargers come in three options, however, only two of those are residential.

Level 1 charging plugs the car into a standard 120-volt outlet and happens at home, as all electric vehicles come with an adapter to plug into Level 1 charging.

Level 2 charging is commonly found in public locations, but can also be installed at home if a 240-volt outlet is available. Level 2 charging is three to five times faster than Level 1. It is a great option for charging overnight at home.

But the long and short of an EV purchase is that it is not just cleaning out your garage and plugging in your car when you get home.

Like all big purchases, it is something that requires both research and planning. Do the research to ensure your electric vehicle has the appropriate charging option.

OPERATION ROUND UP DEADLINE LOOMS

South River EMC's Operation Round Up program is accepting applications for funding.

The Operation Round Up program is funded by you, our members, and helps local schools and non-profit organizations.

In March, the Community Assistance Corporation awarded $42,474 in grants to local organizations. Those include the following:

 Plain View Community

Center: $5,000;  Five and Two Food Pantry: $10,000;  Spivey's Corner Volunteer

Fire & Rescue: $4,800;  Gray's Creek Ruritan Club: $5,000;  Hargrove Elementary: $7,674;  Hobbton High School: $10,000. Since 2008, the Operation Round Up program has awarded $2.42 million in grants, all thanks to members rounding up each month.

For more information about current and past recipients, visit sremc.com/operation-round, or watch The Communicator.

To speak with someone about Operation Round Up, call 910.892.8071 or email sremc@ sremc.com.